Safe equipped with automatic previous payment devices



J. M. sAMANlEGo Aug. 25, 1936.

SAFE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC PREVIOUS PAYMENT DEVICES Filed Nov. 1, 1952Sn. w KW.

hsmwl NW NN. .9% INI, I I 6%.

Invenor: Jse JY. Samanz'eeyo,

Patented Aug. 25, 1936 lUNITED STATES SAFE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATICPREVIOUS PAYMENT DEVICES Jose Mara Samaniego, Madrid, Spain ApplicationNovember 1, 1932, Serial No.'640,710 In Spain November 7, 1931 7 Claims.

My invention relates to automatic safe deposit vaults or checkingdevices for use in stations, hotels, bath houses, and the like.

I intend that the device according to my invention be equipped withpre-payment means, for

placing the safe in condition for use;

More particularly, my invention is directed to the use of a combinationlock, what I term a blocking-up mechanism being employed for blockingthe lock in such manner that the alteration of the combination becomespossible only when, the safety locking device being unlocked, and thesafe therefore not being in use, a coin or counter is inserted into aslot on the safe.

` I shall describe one example of my-safe with the assumption in mindthat a letter-combination is employed, that is, that any desired word ofa certain number of letters is to be set up in the combination.Obviously, however, this may be substituted without invention by anumber combination.

Any one desiring to use the safe after the previous user hasrelinquished it, will nd it either opened or locked by a simple bolt.However, a letter combination remains set up in the lock, as establishedby the previous user. This combination is of course undesirable for thepurposes of the intended user. Hence the latter cannot make use of thesafe without destroying the previous code word and replacing it by a newone, and this he cannot 'do without the insertion of a coin.

Therefore the new user inserts either a. coin or a counter into a hireslot found on the safe, which coin acts as a couple permitting thesetting up of a new code Word or combination on the locking device. f

Assume now merely for the sake of example that the new user sets upV thecode word Rosa, places his valuables in the safe andis prepared to lockthe safe. At this point it is possible, but not necessary, to exact anadditional fee from the user. Assume that it is desired to exact suchadditional" fee, then the mechanismis designed so that the code word isset up and the safe is ready tobe closed. He thereupon closes the safeand at somev later time prepares to reopen the same. I-Ie sets up hiscode word in theV combination lock but finds that he is still unable torelease the block-up safety bolt until he has inserted an additionalcoin in a lock slot. Y i

The apparatus is of course Vso designed that it is impossible to insertadditional coins into the slot or slots until the safe has becomeunlocked.

When the user desires-to remove his belongings from the safe, and Vtovrelinquish'the latter, he

again setsvup in the lock the code word which he has previouslyselected, and after this word has been set up, the design of theapparatus is such that the safety lock will automatically move into itsinoperable position, under the action of suitable biasing means such asa spring or the like.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown very schematically what I nowconsider to be the preferred form of my invention. Obviously, however,countless numbers of possible modifications and variations occur andwill hereafter occur to the reader so that the present disclosure isintended solely by way of example, rather than by way of limitation.Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 showssomewhat schematically a longitudinal section of the device, the frontor face of the safe being shown for convenience at the left side of theView;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line II--II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line III- III of Fig. 1; and

, Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

In the device shown in the drawing, the safetybolt I extends, as shown,throughout the major portion of the length of the safe, and is designedfor slight reciprocation in suitable bearings, one of which is shown forexample at 2. Humps 3 are shown as provided on the safety lock I, atspaced intervals therealong. The letter or number dials 4, 4 of thecombination lock are shown as riding freely on hubs or bearings 5, 5,the dials, disclike in form, being locked in position by means of theinterrelation of the annular ange 6 on the hub 5 and the lock nut 1. Asperhaps better shown in Fig. 2, the hump or key 3 of the shaft or safetybolt I cooperates with a slot 8 extending across the width of the hub 5,thus preventing the latter from rotating. A plurality of holes 9 aredisposed in a circle about the dials 4, 4the purpose of which will bedisclosed hereinafter.

Associated, one with each of the dials 4, are discs I0, supported in anydesired manner as by annular bearings II engaging in an annular recessI2 in the discs I. The bearings II are of course supported in anydesired manner, the support not being shown because it does not formpart of the invention. Each disc I carries in its outer end surface aperipheral slot I3 receiving a fork I4 (Fig. 3) formed on an arm I5 of arod I6, shown as being substantially parallel to the locking bolt I.

Referring again to the discs ID, these are each provided with an offsethub I'I having a bore I8 which is at one end of width just correspondingto the locking bolt I and at its other end being enlarged as at I9 topermit rotation of the disc with respect to the locking bolt. Theportion I8 of the bore has an offset slot 20 adapted to receive the humpor key 3 of the locking bolt.

Fast on each disc III are one or more studs 2I adapted to engage withselected ones of the holes 9 on the dials 4. Referring to Fig. 2, itwill be seen that there is preferably, but not necessarily, one hole 9for each letter or number projection 22.

Formed in the face of the safe is a hire slot 23, adapted to receive acoin for bringing about the unblocking of the combination lock, and forpermitting the setting up of a new code word or combination.

A further bolt 24 is provided, which for convenience will be called alocking bolt. The locking bolt 24 terminates at its inner end in anoffset cam or ramp portion 25, while the rod I6 terminates in a similarcam or ramp portion 26. The bolts 24 and I, `and the rod I 6, are allsubstantially parallel with each other, and the locking bolt 24 and rodI6 are so disposed that their inner ends extend into the slot 23 and therespective ramps 25 and 26 are adapted to be engaged by the coin passingthrough the slot 23.

Let us assume that the former user of the safe has relinquished thesame, and that the safe is therefore locked simply by the locking bolt24, the latter being urged into its locking position indicated by thearrow 2'I by any suitable means such as a biasing spring or the like 28.The safety bolt I has been freed for retraction into its unlockingposition, in the direction of the arrow 29, by any suitable means suchas the biasing spring 36. A coin or counter 3| is then inserted into theslot 23, and is forced down in any desired manner as for example by theuse of an additional coin, the latter of course at all times beingretained in the fingers of the user. In so doing the coin will rstcontact the cam or ramp 25 thereby positively forcing the locking bolt24 to the right against the force of the biasing spring 28. Immediatelythereafter the coin also will contact the cam or ramp 26, therebycausing the forks I5 to move the discs I0 to the right, against theforce of any suitable biasing means such as spring 32, which normallytends to urge the rod I6 in the direction of the arrow 33. Upon movementof the discs III to the right, the pins or studs 2I are disengaged fromthe holes 9 of the dials 4 so that the latter are free to be reset intoa new letter combination. Of course the coin 3I will continue itspassage through the slot 23, and some means must be provided forretaining the locking bolt 24 and the rod I6 in their retractedpositions towards the right. In the case of the rod I6 a ratchet toothor the like 34 has been provided therein, cooperating with a pawl 35keyed by means of slot 36 and pin 3'I on the safety bolt I to slidetransversely thereacross and normally being urged upwardly, in thedirection of the arrow 38 by suitable means such as a biasing spring 39.When the rod I6 has been moved to the right, the pawl 35, under thebiasing action of the spring 39, moves up into latching engagement withthe rod I6.

It is a matter of indifference whether the mechanism shown in Fig. l bemounted in the door of the safe or in the frame of the door. In the caseof large safes the mechanism preferably is installed in the door, Whilein the case of smaller safes, e. g. such as are used for keeping clothesin, it might be preferable to install the mechanism in the frame of thedoor.

In Fig. 4 is shown a latching means for the locking bolt 24. This latterhas a shouldered recess 40 which engages with a latch 4I pivoted at 42to a portion 43 of the frame or the like of the'safe. A push button orlike 44 is adapted to be depressed by the user or attendant, this latterbeing pivoted at 45 to the latch 4I, so that the depression of thebutton 44 results in the releasing of the latch.

After the new code word or combination has been set up in the dials 4(suitable sight openings for these latter of course being formed in thesurface of the safe) and the valuables have been placed in the safe, itis necessary for the user to restore the corresponding discs I0 intotheir locking engagement with the corresponding dials 4 so that the twowill act as a unit. The vertical member 46 slides laterally so as topush the bolt II to the left in Fig. 1, this sliding action beingbrought about by the operator manually pushing the hub or knob 41, whichlatter is joined to the vertical member 46 and has a neck adapted toslide along a slot 48. By moving the arm 46 to the left, for example,against the force of the biasing spring 30, the pawl 35 is moveddownwardly both by the impelling action of the ratchet tooth 34, and ifdesirable, by the cam track or the like 5I engaging with the pin 52. Thelatch having been retracted, the discs I!) can move to the left underthe impelling action of the spring 32. Since these discs have beenrestrained from rotation about the safety bolt I due to the engagementof the humps 3 of the latter with the restricted portion I8 of the boreof the discs, the pins or studs 2| of the latter engage only With theproper ones of the holes 9 in the dials 4. Because of the movement ofthe safety bolt I into its locking position, the humps 3 assume thedotted line positions shown at 3', entirely outside of the confines ofthe discs I0 or their hubs I'I. The safety bolt I being retained in itslocking position by continued depression of the arm 46, it is possibleto rotate at random the dials 4, which carry with them theircorresponding discs I0. Because of the angular orientation of thesediscs I0, the slots 26 of the restricted portions I3 of the bore thereofbecome out of alignment with the humps 3, and engage therewith as thesafety bolt tends to move to the right under the tension of the spring30, and prevent any movement of the safety bolt out of its lockingposition.

As a result of the locking of the safe by means of the safety bolt I, itis desirable to prevent anyone from inserting additional coins in theslot 23. Obviously, a large number of possibilities can be suggested tothis end. As shown, an arm 53, pivoted as at 54 to suitable means suchas the frame of the safe, is secured to the safety bolt I for slighttransverse and pivotal reciprocation therealong. In the form shown, apin 55 on the safety bolt I engages in an elongated slot 56 formed inthe arm 53. Upon movement of the safety bolt to the left, the arm 53pivots about the pin 54 into a position centering in or just rearwardlyof the slot 23, thus effectively preventing the insertion of additionalcoins.

For facilitating the prevention of dismantling of the combination set upin the lock during the movement of the safety bolt to the left, i. e.into its locking position, suitable means are provided for holding therod I6 in its leftmost position.

As shown; these means, which of course may assume any desired form,comprise a ratchet tooth 51 in the rod itself, and a cooperating pawl 58having a pin 59 engaging in a cam track 60. An elongated slot 62 in thepawl receives therein a pin 6I fast on the safety bolt I. The pawl isurged upwardly in the direction of the arrow 63 by means of suitabletensioning means such as the spring 64. Thus the rod I6 is maintained inits left hand position by the pawl 58 until at such time as the useragain sets up his letter combination on the dials 4, thus bringing aboutthe rotation of the discs I0 coupled to the former by the studs 2I,until these discs I0 become so oriented that their slots 20 are alignedwith each other and with the hump or keys 3 so that the safety bolt I isretracted by its spring 30. During this retraction the pin 59 of thepawl 58 is carried downwardly by the camtrack 60 out of engagement with,the rod I6 so that the latter can be drawn to the right upon theinsertion of additional coins in theslot 23.

In the preferred operation of the device, it is intended that when inuse, the safe be locked only by the safety bolt I, the locking bolt 24being used only to prevent unauthorized use of the safe during suchtimes as the safe is not in hire. Accordingly, the pin 44 is intended tobe depressed only by the attendant to release the locking bolt 24 afterthe last user has relinquished the safe, and accordingly, it ispreferable that some means be provided to prevent persons other than theattendant from being able to depress the said button 44.

The foregoing description is of the simplest form of the invention, andit will be noted that nothing has as yet been said concerning the lockslot. The foregoing simple construction is perhaps the most suitable forsafes operated by 'the owners of the premises on which the safes arelocated. The possibility exists, however, that the operating companywill be different from the owner of the premises, making it desirable toprovide for two separate collections. To accomplish this end, I providefor means for blocking up the safety bolt I when it has been unlocked bysetting up the code word in the lock, thereby preventing movement of thesafety bolt into its unlocking position until a counter or coin has beeninserted into a lock slot. In the form which I have shown in thedrawings I employ a slot 65 formed in the face or some other suitableportion of the safe. A ratchet tooth 66 is formed in the safety bolt I,which ratchet tooth cooperates with a pawl 61 urged downwardly in thedirection of the arrow 68 by suitable means such as a biasing spring 69.When a coin 10 is inserted into the slot 65 it contacts with means suchas a cam Weight 1I pivoted to the frame or the like at 12 and normallydepending downwardly by the combined action of gravity and the spring 69into the slot 65. Thus it will be seen that the weight 1I is actuated bygravity, and turns on pivot 12. Moreover, the pawl 61, pivoted at 13 toweight 1I, is pushed downwardly under the action of spring 69, so thatnormallythe weight 1I is in its lower position shown by dotted lines inFig. 1. When a coin is inserted into the slot 65, it pushes the weight1I upwardly, the latter pulling up the pawl 61, which frees the ratchettooth 66, so that when the arm 46 is operated the bolt I may be slid tovthe left, thus locking the safe.

It should be noticed that so long as the bolt I is not slid to the left,the lateral projection 14 of the bolt IV acts as a stop for the coin,and thelatter keeps the pawl 61 raised. As soon as the bolt I is slid tothe left, the said projection 14 moves to position 15, whereupon thecoin drops and weight 1I moves down, the pawl 61 being again ready tointerlock with the ratchet tooth 16 as soon as this latter returns toposition 66, upon the bolt I being'slid to the right when the safe isopened. If necessary, an additional coin, always retainedin theiingersof the user, may be inserted into the slot 65 to force the coin1I] downwardly.

I intend that the counter or coin which is inserted in the slot 65 willfall into a different money box from that used for the coins inserted inthe hire slot 23. If desired, however, these coins from the slot 65 mayfall -into the same money boxif this additional device has no objectother than to increase the revenue. The money boxes may be providedeither altogether separate from each other, or one within the other,each box, however. being operated by separate keys.

The lock slot 65 has the advantage that even should the assistantneglect to releei'se the locking bolt 24 by depression of the button 44after the Vlast user has relinquished the safe, and the new user,finding the safe open, desires to use it without inserting a coin in thehire slot, being satisfied to use the code word already set up, it isstill impossible for him to unlock the safe without introducing a coininto the lock slot.

A recording apparatus may be employed, if desired, to ascertain thenumber of times the letter combination has been changed.

Once the broad features of my invention are disclosed, it is obviousthat numerous modifications and adaptations will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, all however falling within the range of myinvention. Accordingly, I intend that my invention be limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

1. A coin-freed locking mechanism for safes, comprising in combination,a safety bolt engaged with a bolt socket of a safe; a plurality ofrevolvable clutching members; a plurality of revolvablecharacter-bearing members; cooperating means on said two sets of membersfor bringing about the interengagement of cooperating members of each ofsaid two sets of members; means on the bolt to hold said clutch membersagainst rotary motion when the bolt is retracted and to permit rotarymotion of the clutch members when the bolt is in its projected orlocking position; means associated with said clutch members to move thesame into combination-changing position upon insertion of a coin orcounter into a suitable coin slot; means to retain said clutch membersin the combination-changing position while the bolt is retracted, andfurther means to hold said clutch members in engagement with thecharacter-bearing members and to close the coin slot while the bolt isprojected; a second bolt adapted to be engaged with a bolt socket of asafe, and means to retract the second bolt upon the insertion of a coinor counter into said coin slot and to subsequently release said bolt.

2. A coin-freed locking mechanism according to claim 1 in which saidcharacter-bearing members and said clutch members are in the form ofdiscs provided with notches; and comprising projections on the safetybolt slidable in said notches; and a xed bearing on the door ofV saidsafe on which bearing said discs are revolvably mounted.

3. A coin-freed locking mechanism according to claim 1, and comprising aforked rod or plate operatively connecting together the clutch members,said rod or plate having a ramp portion projecting into the slot, themovement of which rod or plate serves to release the clutch members fromthe character-bearing members, and to carry them to thecombination-changing position upon the insertion of a coin or counterinto said coin slot so as to engage said ramp portion, thereby forcingthe coin into contact with said rod or plate, and spring means tendingto resist said release of said clutch members.

4. A coin-freed locking mechanism according to claim l, and comprising aforked rod or plate operatively connecting together the clutch members,and a pair of retaining pawls associated with the safety bolt andrespectively adapted to be engaged by the said forked rod or plate inorder to retain said clutch members in the combinationchanging positionwhile the safety bolt is retracted and in order to hold said clutchmembers in engagement with the character-bearing members While the boltis projected.

5. A coin-freed locking mechanism as claimed in claim l, and comprisinga guard pivotally interconnected With the safety bolt, the said guardbeing adapted to be moved into operative position behind the coin slotsimultaneously with the projection of said bolt to the locking position.

6. A coin-freed locking mechanism as claimed in claim l, and comprisinga ramp portion and a notch on the second bolt, the said second boltbeing adapted to be retracted to the unlocking position by engagement ofa coin or counter with said ramp portion of the second bolt uponinsertion of the coin or counter into the coin slot, spring meansresisting the retraction of said second bolt, and a spring-biased leveradapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said notched part ofthe second bolt.

7 A coin-freed locking mechanism according to claim 1, and comprising anotched part in said safety bolt, a spring pawl, a pivotal levercarrying said spring pawl, a second coin slot so positioned with respectto said pivotal lever that a coin inserted in said slot will engage andmove said pivotal lever, said spring pawl being adapted to engage thesaid notched part of the safety bolt when the latter is in the retractedposition and to be moved out of engagement with said bolt upon theinsertion of a coin or counter into the second coin slot, to effectdisplacement of the pivotal lever and the spring paWl.

JOSE MARA SAMANIEGO.

